A typical computer network has a server that hosts e-mails and file sharing.  The setup cost for the hardware could range from $4,000 and up while the setup fees and ongoing maintenance could be in the thousands also.  A new alternative has been cloud computing.  With this new method, there is no need for server equipment, server anti-virus and anti-spam software.  Everything is administered in the cloud, or online.

With Google Apps, for instance, you can share e-mails, contacts, and calendar for $50/per user annually.  With this pricing, you can anti-spam protection.  You still need anti-virus protection on your computer.  Best of all, the tech setup is pretty straight-forward.  How does it work?  Instead of Microsoft Exchange server, you use the Google website as your Exchange server which syncs between Outlook and Google.  So, if you don’t want to use the Google website, you can continue to use your Outlook.  The cool factor is that you can sync your Blackberry with it as if it were a Blackerry Enterprise Server.  This means you can sync everything from your Blackberry on the fly.  iPhones can be synced with the emails also.

As per file sharing, you can do that also as well as limit access to certain folks.  The challenge or issue with the cloud computing is that you’ll need a fast Internet connection in order to quickly access and download files, e-mails, calendars, and contacts.  If your Internet is slow or down, your business is down as well.  So, you should still keep an external hard drive handy for quick back-ups.

Overall, cloud computing is here to stay and will foster as Internet speeds get faster and faster.  Google, Amazon, and Yahoo are the leaders right now as the cloud computing providers.  If interested, you can take a trial run first to see if you’re interested.   Feel free to contact one of our cloud computing computer experts for more info.

It is tempting to take your Windows XP or Vista computer, and just upgrade it to Windows 7.  No questions asked, just to do it.  Windows 7 is the best operating system yet, according to our Windows tech team, and so why not upgrade?

Before blindly upgrading your computer to Windows 7, check your computer manufacturer’s website to ensure all of the drivers are available for Windows 7.  You might be finished with your Windows 7 upgrade, and then realize you don’t have sound or wireless capable.  Not a good upgrade, eh?

Also, you’ll want to make sure to get the right version of Windows, either a manufacturer-based one for your computer, or a regular Windows 7 one from the store.  Basically, make sure you don’t put in a Dell Windows CD if you have a Sony!

Overall, you can upgrade directly from Windows Vista to 7.  But, with Windows XP, you’ll need to perform a full installation of Windows 7 so back up your files first.  Also, make sure your computer meets the minimum Windows 7 system requirements.

If you need help with your Windows 7 upgrade, feel free to call an NYC Windows 7 expert. 

Windows 7 has lots of cool features that are overlooked.  Did you know that Windows 7 can burn CDs and DVDs all by itself?  You don’t need Roxio or Nero to burn files any more.  Just use version 7’s own software.  This new feature has forced Nero to offer free software in the hope that users will buy the upgraded version.

Also, the Windows 7 operating system has an ISO burner built in.  An ISO burner allows you to copy software from the Internet and make it bootable.  For instance, if you need to download Windows or a Ghost image software, that needs to be booted into to work, the ISO burner via Windows will do that for you.  In previous Windows versions, you needed a third-party software to buy in order to install the ISO burner software.

So, as you can see, there are some neat little features built into Windows that allows you to work within Windows instead of shopping for must-have software, especially for burning CDs and DVDs.  Windows 7 sure is turning into Microsoft’s best kept secret, or as we like to say, their saving grace after releasing Windows Vista.

Setting up the Time Capsule from a Windows computer should be simple, but sometimes you could get into serious trouble if you don’t follow the right steps.  Here is a Time Capsule set-up guide to set up wireless, the hard drive, and a printer from a Windows computer:

1. Connect your Time Capsule device to your modem.  Make sure to turn off your modem first and then turn on the Time Capsule.
2. Install Airport Utility 5.4.2
3. Choose your Apple Airport from the Windows networks list
4. Open Airport Utility and select your Time Capsule
5. Choose broadband and if you’re using a static or DHCP client - usually it’s DHCP
6. Make sure to set up the password encryption to WPA/WPA2 Personal since Windows Vista or above is not a big fan of WEP.
7. Go into Manual Setup to click on the “Disks” in order to select yours and create a secure password.  You can also share a printer from this section.

That’s it!  This tech support guide should get you well on your way to setting up your Time Capsule from your Windows computer.

If your laptop can’t get sound, you’re not out of luck.  There a several steps to try before throwing your laptop out. 

Here are the laptop repair steps to try for lacking audio:

1. Check the volume!  Make sure it’s not on mute or down low.
2. Check any physical audio buttons on the side panel of your laptop. It might be set to very low.
3. Look for any sound programs that might be preventing audio
4. If that doesn’t work, your next decision is either changing the sound board or the motherboard.
5. Step 4 is pricey, so skip it and plug in a USB laptop speaker instead and get instant sound!

Replacing a sound board or motherboard could cost close to a new laptop.  Instead, you can buy a $40 portable USB laptop speaker that will perform a quick, cheap fix.  Plus, you don’t need a tech repair person to set it up for you.  You just plug it in, and as long as your USB port works, you’ll be listening to your favorite band in no time.

A common computer issue we’ve seen lately is an alert popping up from the bottom-right part of the screen that says “Local area connection unplugged.”  This will come up periodically.  You might still have Internet access or intermittent online access.

This “local area connection unplugged” error usually lies in the one of three causes:

1. Network cable is faulty between your computer and the port, router, or modem
2. Network interface card (NIC), or network jack, that the network cable connects to is failing; or
3. The router or modem port that the network cable is connected to is failing.

The first thing to do is call up your Internet Service Provider, such as Verizon or TimeWarner.  They’ll send a signal from their central office to your modem to make sure everything is okay from their end.  Once that checks out, replace your network cable to see if that fixes it.  If not, a quick work-around fix is to make your computer wireless by installing a wireless card and then you won’t have to worry about local area connection issues.  Otherwise, you can replace your network interface card by installing a network adapter. 

Then, you can run the network cable from that adapter to your modem or router.  Finally, if that doesn’t work, or if you’re just too lazy to try those steps,have your Internet Service Provider replace your modem, claiming that the network port from the modem is faulty which lately has been the case.

It is good judgement to replace your modem every once in a while anyway since its speed, like routers, degrade over time.  The one thing that your Internet Service Provider cannot test is the port on the modem that connects to your local network.  So, when all else fails, you should persuade them that is the problem.  They might need you to test it out with another computer or just take your word for it.

GoToMyPC has long been a great way to remote into your PC.  This comes in handy if you’re at home and you want to remote into your office computer, or vice versa.  Now, you can also remote into your Mac with GoToMyPC whether you are using a PC or Mac from your starting computer. 

In the past, remoting into a Mac was a mess.  You needed VPN, VNC, or another V-named program.  There was never a simple way to remote into a Mac.  The GoToMyPC makes it a piece of cake.  For your Mac to accept this computer remote solution, you’ll need to have at least Mac OS 10.4 or later and Java enabled for your browser. 

You can test it out first with a 30-day trial.  This is definitely a great way to avoid the commute and the tech support setup for this software is a breeze!

Computers are a work of science.  Since all computers require the same basic hardware and connections to be operational, any computer issues are “Elementary, my Dear Watson.”  If Sherlock Holmes were alive today, he would probably be a computer expert since all computers are built similar to cars to other machines that require the elementary, basic core to be up and running.  Thus, if the computer breaks down or crashes, it is pretty logical to determine where the issue lies and then the computer fix is straight-forward.

Well, if you still think computer repairs are not “elementary,” we’ve helped you out by providing the below hardware symptoms that are typical of PC computer issues, along with the specific hardware to check for fixing or replacing to get your computer working again.

1. Symptom: No sound, no lights when turning on -> Check: power supply, motherboard, CPU
2. Symptom: Continuous beeps when turning on -> Check: keyboard, video card, memory, motherboard
3. Symptom: Screen is blank upon boot up -> Check: power on monitor, video card connection
4. Symptom: Operating system doesn’t load -> Check: hard drive, memory, motherboard, CPU
5. Symptom: Screeching noise -> Check: power supply, CPU, hard drive, floppy drive, speakers
6. Symptom: Shuts off by itself -> Check: BIOS power features, power supply, fans, dust
7. Symptom: Operating system freezes -> Check: Windows; probably not a hardware issue

These technical support scenarios should help you out during your next PC crash.

It’s not easy keeping up with which software can convert what file to another.  Whether you need to convert word or exel or pdfs, or excel or pdfs to pictures, there are a slew of programs that can convert these files for you.  It is a little difficult to keep up with all of the thousands of applications that do this.

Now, there is one program, Zamzar, albeit a wacky name, that is a powerful converter that can change just about any format you are looking for.  It works with images, documents, music, video, and lot of other formats.  You can use it for free if you want to convert one file at a time.  All you need to do is browse to your original file and then specify what file you’d like to convert it to.  Then, your newly converted file will be e-mailed to you.

Here’s the skinny.  Yes, Zamzar quickly converts files for you.  But, pictures come out a little fuzzy.  Hey, what can you expect for free?!  But, you can subscribe to the service for bulk file conversions and online storage space.  And hopefully the quality of images are better when you pay.  This is definitely a good website to keep in your tech support toolchest.

Viruses and spyware have spooked computers for decades.  But, which one is worse?  And can either one be prevented, 100%?

Viruses are the more obvious of the two.  If your anti-virus software is working, it will automatically pop up with a warning message of the virus.  However, if your anti-virus software is not up to date, it will quarantine the virus.  In the worse case, your anti-virus software will not pick up the rogue virus and your system could:

• get slow
• turn off unexpectedly
• e-mail the virus to other network computers and contacts
• incapacitate programs and functionality
• crash the computer

Spyware is typically in stealth mode while it infects the PC, then it will pop-up with a message, usually on the lower right, providing warnings of your infection.  Spyware is a little bit nastier than viruses since anti-spyware software is not typically updated to resolve the rapidly new instances of spyware that are released daily.  Plus, most users forget to protect their PCs from spyware, thinking that their anti-virus software will protect against everything.  Spyware has multiple effects such as:

• learning website navigation habits and spamming accordingly
• slowing down the PC
• providing fake spyware software for a fee

You should contact a local NYC spyware specialist or NYC virus technician if you don’t feel comfortable removing your own PC infections.